Got gutsy - Tried the Feather blade!

[Warren]

Well I'm only about 12 shaves and two weeks into the DE style using my '64 Slim Adjustable and '60 Fat Boy Adjustable and Derby's, but decided that since I've had all really great shaves with no cuts/nicks that I'd load up a Feather to see if my technique is truly good - Or I've been lucky...

Well... I've had two absolute wonderful shaves with the Feather (goodbye Derby's) with no cuts. nicks or irritation! Boy they do cut nice!

I'm running both razors at a setting of 4 and 3 passes does just great - With a tiny bit of cleanup (blade buffing) around the chin area to finish off...

It's all coming together! I have some Astras I want to compare but this sure seems like a helluva blade and I'm stoked that my technique has progressed so well!

 

[rotto66]

Glad to hear things are going well. I'm a relative new comer myself, I've been using a DE for about 2 months now. I like using Feather blades in my 40's style Super Speed, but I have found I prefer using an Astra SP in my slim. But as always YMMV. By the way since you like the Feather blades I would recommend trying some 7 O'clock Sharp Edge(yellow) blades, I actually prefer them a little over the Feathers.

 

[Warren]

By the way since you like the Feather blades I would recommend trying some 7 O'clock Sharp Edge(yellow) blades, I actually prefer them a little over the Feathers.

Cool might have to try those as well - Hey love your Helix! Great scoot!

 

[Dngolden]

I'm a pretty big feather fan as well. But I'll be interested in how many great shaves you get. Sometimes I get 2 awesome shaves and 2 fine shaves. In addition to the 7o series (give all the colors a try - I like blacks) check out the poly silver SIs.

 

[Greaserboi]

Feathers and Gillette silver blues are my fav. GSB's tend to actually glide over my face much better than a feather, but the feather gets closer, so I do two passes instead of 3 with the gillettes...

 

[Chadao]

Congratulations. I am a Feather fan all the way. I just switched to a Weber. With the Feather it cuts so cleaning I can barely hear the shave. Next time I upgrade I plan on going to the Feather razor, the newest. From everything I read it is absolutely made for the Feather blade.

 

[Toothpick]

We got another one boys!

Feathers are great. Hands down the best.

 

[coolbus18]

Congrats on clearing the "Feather" hurdle! Now if you're up to it try the Polsilver SI or Voskhod or Crystal all hella sharp and smooth! Next thing ya' know you'll be using an OC! Enjoy your shaves!

 

[Warren]

Voskhod or Crystal

I have these two inline already...

 

[OMEN]

They are great but I'll go back to my two packs of Personnas once they are finished. There's no denying they are a better shave though.

 

[TallyShave]

The general consensus from what I can see is that Fathers are good for on or two shaves. Is that worth it compared to a blade that may give slightly less on the first and second have but more on the latter shaves? I think Feathers have earned a sort of mystique that precedes it. They're great blades but for many they don't remain great passed a couple of shaves. And they're much less dangerous or unforgiving than legend has you believe. Personally (and YMMV) if not for the name, in a blind test I think I would think other blades are better as well as sharper. I love Feather blades but I think the mystique is starting to overshadow the reality.

Believe it not, I think the mystique is actually much less recently than it was a couple years ago. Recently it seems the inevitable backlash against the "cool" thing is more common. Better is always in the eye of the beholder, but I have my doubts that many other blades would be sharper. How much someone values sharp is up to them though. I am a big fan. I only get two shaves from them, but generally get three from my other favorites so it doesn't make a big difference for me.

 

[Warren]

Well I can definitely tell the difference between a Derby and a Feather - We'll see about the rest...

 

[TallyShave]

I just think that without the internet, they would just be another blade. Sharper, yes, but no big deal as they seem to be. Without the internet you would have a choice of blades and you would buy one and use it...period. It may or it may not work for you and you'd move on. One may be sharper than another and one may be smoother (or not)...but you'd use it and make a choice and more on. However, with the internet I think people now go in with a preconceived notion and then, at times, try to keep up with the current fashion. Or they, because they already set their mind based on the internet, feel and fear things that aren't really there.

I agree. This is true of so many products though. How often do you see people commenting or expressing an opinion on products they haven't even used? Far too often. I have seen two people declare MdC to be the "best soap ever" without ever using it (although they claimed they had at first).

 

[Warren]

Four shaves on the Feather - Had my best shave ever today... Will see if I can get a full seven days out of it... Then I'm going to try an Astra for a week... So much fun!

 

[Warren]

So shave 5 on the Feather started to head downhill - 6 was about like a 3-4 day Derby - Shave 7 was rough as all getout...

My buddy was proclaiming he got two really good weeks on the Feather - The I found out it only does one pass WTG... So there you go!

I believe whatever blade I choose it will be 4 days and move on... Definitely won't spend 2x on the Feather for a 4-day blade - Just my 2 cents...

 

[cigargod]

I like feathers in my fatboy and SS but not in my old Type open comb, as I get a little irritation and some weepers. I always get 5 shaves from them and 2 or 3 pass shaves not just a single pass. Shaves 2,3 and 4 are the best and 5 is still a good shave. They start to pull for me on the first stroke of the 6th shave so I toss them. Out of Wilkinson Sword, Personna Red, Astra, Chrystal, and Merkur blades the Feathers give me the closest but sometimes not smoothest. I have some Personna Surgical Prep and Gillette Silver Blues on the way. Oh and I haven't had a blade last more than 6 shaves and very few that has lasted 6.

 

[Sendit]

Same boat......posted a thread here about picking second blade for my 7th DE shave ever. I have been doing 2 pass shaves with Astras and feeling like there should be something better out there.

Took the leap and tried the Feather just this morning. Easily, closest / smoothest shave to date. Couldn't be happier.

 

[Kevan]

I don't believe anything on the market is as sharp as a Feather blade. The only thing that approaches it is a Treet Dura Sharp. But for me, they are just too harsh. The first shave, every little lapse in technique is punished. Spots of blood decorate my neck and jawline. The second shave is the best....smooth and close. By the 3rd shave, it's starting to drag like a 7 O'Clock Black used 5 times and I get razor rash, and by the 4th shave it's rubbish.

I keep coming back to them to see if they get better for me and they never do. I'm down to my last blade in my original 10-pack. I'm glad there are other blades available to ne honest. If I had no choice but to use a Feather, I would probably use carts exclusively.